S2 E5: Muslim Representation in Video Games // RizTest Podcast

The RizTest Podcast

Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan Kareem! 🕋

We geek out and level up this week with the amazingly talented Osama Dorias and discuss the topic of representation of Muslims in Video Games🕹.

Osama is Lead Games Designer at Warner Brother Games Canada, authored the Independent Video Games programme at Dawson College (Qubec) , founded the Montreal Independent Games Awards and is President of the Muslim In Games Special Interest Group for the IGDA (International Games Developers Association).

Osama is also a prolific public speaker talking about Muslim Representation in Video Games at conferences around the world, most notably at the Games Developer Conference presenting a “How to Guide to Muslim Representation in Video Games”.

We discuss:

• Personal journey into the world of video games
• The ‘Good Muslim Vs Bad Muslim’ Trope
• Parallels between the Film & TV and Games Industry
• Well-Intentioned mistakes with representation and why being too afraid to try leads to poor representation
• Bad guys in games: Zombies, Muslims and Nazis
• Concept of 'Arabistan'
• Is representation better in Indie Games? or Big Studio Games?
• People of Colour in Play (organisation)
• Muslim Representation in Graphic Novels
• Osama’s Talk at the GDC “A How to Guide for Muslim Representation in Video Games”
  • https://youtu.be/p4MHV15n-Lw

Games covered:

• Little Big Planet (2008)
• Call of Duty Franchise (2007-)
• Counter Strike (2000)
• Terminator Salvation (2009)
• Super Street Fighter IV (2010)
• Tekken 7 (2015)
• Overwatch (2015)
• Deus Ex (2000)
• Assassins Creed Franchise (2007-)
• Spiderman (PS4 2018)
• Good Pizza Great Pizza (2018)
• MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (2018)
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege: Year 5 Pass (2020)
• After HOURS (2018)